1473: Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who published proof of a sun-centered solar system, was born. 1834: Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen, developer of the visual acuity Snellen Chart seen in all opticians' offices, was born. 1859: Svante Arrhenius, whose famous equation relating temperature change to chemical reactions and is applied to semiconductor lifetime acceleration, was born. 1878: Thomas Edison received a patent for his phonograph. 1916: Ernst Mach, of speed of sound unit defining fame, died. 1945: During World War II, 30,000 U.S. Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima, where they encountered ferocious resistance from Japanese forces, and took control of the strategically important island after a month-long battle. 1977: President Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino ("Tokyo Rose").  1986: The Soviet Union launched the Mir space station.